Apparatus fqrand process of cleaning seed-cotton



(No Model.)

W. P. GROOM.

APPARATUS POB. AND PROCESS OP CLEANING SPED COTTON. NO. 469,560. Patented IOb.23,1892.V

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VVALIJAOE P. GROOM, OF BROOKLYN, NET YORK.

APPARATUS FOR AN'D PROCESS OF CLEANING SEED-COTTON.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 469,560, dated February 23, 1892. Application fled June l, 1891. Serial No. 394,690. (No model.)

To a/ZZ whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, WALLACE P. GROOM, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city of Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for and Processes of Cleaning SeedCotton, of which the following is a description sufficient to enable others skilled in the art to which the invention appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to the treatment of seed-cotton as received from the planter or producer, and is designed to cleanse and purify the same by removing it from hulls, (or bol1s,) twigs, leaf, sand, and other foreign matter with which it may be contaminated. Heretofore this has been only imperfect-ly accomplished by machines which agitate and beat the seed-cotton under the conditions of ordinary atmospheric pressure.

The distinguishing feature of my invention consists in passing loosened-up seedcotton through a chamber from which the air is exhausted sufficiently to reduce the pressure or tension therein below that of the atmosphere and in carrying off the seed-cotton from said chamber and away from the heavy impurities by means of a current or currents of air admitted to the chamber in such manner as to lift and separate the lighter material from the heavier. In carrying out this feature 'of my invention the seed-cotton may be loosened up and whipped directly within the exhaustchamber, or it may be transferred to the said chamber from an independent opener or beater. I prefer, however, to open and whip the seed-cotton in the exhaust-chamber under the conditions of partial vacuum maintained therein, and although this is a secondary or incidental feature of my invention it is iniportant in practice, as it enables me to handle and control the material and process more satisfactorily and economically.

Another feature of'my invention consists in connecting with the eduction passage, through which the seed-cotton is drawn off from the exhaust-chamber, an. inclosed pocket or drop-flue, through which air is admitted to the main passage. The air thus admitted is `not sufficient in quantity to impair the required degree of vacuum, but sufiicient to create a current that will raise and float away ,seed-cotton from impurities which pass over with the seed-cotton from the exhaustchamber.

Still another feature of my invention consists in introducing the seed-cotton from the exhaust-chamber into a settling-chamber, from which the lighterimpurities and impah pable dust are separated from the seed-cotton and carried off.

In carrying out my improved process the apparatus employed is of secondary importance, although there are certain essential mechanical features which form a part of my invention, as hereinafter described and claimed. I do not, however, confine myself to the identical form and construction of parts shown in the accompanying drawings, since it is obvious that various modifications in minor details and arrangements may be made without departing from the spirit and intent of my invention.

The drawing represents, diagrammatically, a vertical longitudinal section of the essential parts of apparatus suitable for carrying out my improved method of loosening up and cleaning seed-cotton.

As hereinbefore stated, the seed-cotton may be loosened up in other independent apparatus preparatory to its introduction into the exhaust-chamber A. I prefer, however, to situate the loosening and whipping mechanism wholly or partially within the vacuum or eXhaust-chamberA, as indicated in the drawing. Such mechanism may -be of any suitable or preferred form and arrangement, that shown in the drawing consisting ofa slowlyrevolving feed-cylinder h, by which the seedcotton is withdrawn from the hopper C, from which it is in turn removed bythe more rapidly rotating intermediate cylinder h', from the periphery of which it is whipped by the cylinder h2, which rotates at a still higher rate of speed.

vFor the purpose of regulating the combing out of seed-cotton from the mass fed into the hopper C, I arrange an adjustable bar c above the said feed-cylinder l), extendinglongitudinally with relation thereto and having its under side provided witha series of teeth c. By means of this bar c I also prevent a forward movement ina body of the mass of ICO seed-cotton is loosened up by the successive.

action of the combs c c2, feed-cylinder b, and intermediate cylinder b. The whipping-cylinder b2 drives it from the intermediate cylinder b and throws it toward and against the fender D. The fender D is perforated, reticlulated, or otherwise so formed as to permit the f passagethrough it of air drawn in, under the action of the exhaust-fan or equivalent device F, through the apertures e c in the wall E2`of the exhaust-chamber A. of air Aadmitted. through the apertures e is regulated by suitable valves or dampers e and is not sufficient in quantity to impair the prescribed degree of vacuum maintainedA by y the exhaust device F. The air-current thus established through the fender meets and floats off the seed-cotton from the heavier impurities, which fall out'of the exhaust-chamt be'rA through the discharge-passagevG. In

falling through the said discharge-passage G Y theimpurities encounter a strong entering current of air induced by the exhaust F, which current sifts out and carries upward and back into the exhaust-chamber the seed-cotton carried down with the heavier impu-rities, which consist of the hulls (or bolls), of the cotton, Jtwigs, sand, nails, &c., with which thev seedcotton is contaminated during the harvesting and which are therefore delivered, together with the seed-cotton, into the hopper C. From the'exhaust-chamber A the seed-cotton separated from the heavier impurities is drawn through the eduction-passage E under the influence of vthe air-exhausting device-F. An ordinary rotary exhaust-fan may `beconveniently used for withdrawing the air and seedcotton from the exhaust-chamber A and eduction-pipes E E and for delivering it into the settling-chamber I-I. The eduction-passage E is preferably slightly inclined downward for a portion of its length after leaving the exhaust-chamber A for the-purpose of facili- 'tating the-separation of the seed-cotton from thecomparatively light impurities carried over from the exhaust-chamber A. The impurities thus carried over are light as compared with those from which the cotton is separated in the exhaust-chamber A and discharge-passage G, but are still heavier than the'loosened-up seed-cotton. To let out the impurities from which the seed-cotton sepaf The amount I impurities wouid descend into the drop-flue I, I create a current by admitting air into the chamber .I through a suitable regulator or valvej, which air, flowing up through the dropfiue I, because of the partial vacuum within the eduction-iiues E E', lifts up and carries away from the impurities most of the seedcotton encountered in its ascent, returning the said seed-cotton to the eduction-passages E E to be delivered into the settling-chamber Il. A portion of the eduction-passage E is preferably vertical, or substantially so, the lower end of this upright passage E coincidy ing with the entrance to the drop-flue I, so

thattwigs, sand, or other impurities dropped by the seed-cotton on its Way to they settlingcham-ber I-I can fall back and down through the said drop-flue I and into the collectingchamber J.l

Under certain conditions inpractice a single exhaust-fan or equivalent dev-ice communicatingwith the settling-chamber II may be sufficient to create andv maintain the prescribed `degree of vacuum and cause currents of sufficient strength through the eductionflues E E', drop-flue I, collecting-chamber J, and exhaust-chamber A. If preferred, however, and where the conditions'ofuse require it, a rotary fan F is interposed between the upper end of theeduction-ii-ue Eand the entrance to the settling-chamber. In either case the seed-cotton entering the enlarged space constituting the settling-chamber-II is distributed or diffused through it in such manner IOO that the impalpable dust, light fragments of leaf, &c., accompanying it into the chamber II are separated therefrom and are drawn off by the exhaust device L, while the seed-cotton settles upon the fioor of said chamber.

To facilitate the action of drawing off the light impuritiesand the im palpable dust-commi'ngled with the seed-cotton, a part of the upper portion and end of the chamberH may be partitioned off more or less by a perforated or ret-iculated screen 7L, interposed between the main portion of the chamber H and the exhaust-flue K and suctionfdevice L. -On the side-of the chamber next the exhaust-flue K the'screen'h is inclined downward, so that portions of the leaf, dac., coming in contact therew-ith may fall or settle into a compartment M, separatefrom the clean seed-cotton in the main compartment.

Automatic vacuum-valves V are arranged at appropriate points in the apparatus, vas in the side of the exhaust-chamber A and in the eduction-pipe E', to guard against Atoo great a reduction of atmosphericpressure within the apparatus.

It is to be understood that the air-exhausting mechanism employed is of sufficient power IIO devices by which the currents of air drawn in may be regulated with accuracy, according to the condit-ion and requirements of the material under treatment.

It Will be noticed that by my improved method of treating the seed-cotton it is loosened up and put int'o the most favorable condition for facilitatingits separation from commingled hulls, (or bolls,) sand, and other impurities, and that it is lifted out of and carried away from the impurities by gentle con" trollable receding currents of air, which sift out the seed-cotton and carry it to the settlingchamber II. A small percentage of seed-cotton still contaminated with foreign matter may be left in the inclosed chamber J, while most of the heavy worthless stuff is discharged from the apparatus through the dischargepassage G.

In my concurrent application, Serial No. 393,755, tiled May 22, 1891, I set forth and claim a process of ginning and cleansing cotton in vacuo. In the present application I limit myself to the treatment of seed-cotton-t'. e., cotton-seed before the removal of its hair (or cotton-Wool) by the process known as ginning A cover or trap-door R is provided in the hopper C for the purpose of excluding theV air from the exhaust-chamber A when the hopper is nearly emptied of seed-cotton.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

l. The process, substantially as herein described, of cleaning seed-cotton, which consists in loosening up and whipping the seedcotton and simultaneously subjecting said seed-cotton to the action 4of currents of air in a partial vacuum.

2. The process, substantially as herein described, of cleaning seed-cotton, which consists in loosening up and whipping the seedcotton and simultaneously subjecting the seed-cotton to the action of currents of air in a partial vacuum and then subjecting the cotton to the action of light currents of air for removing the dust and allowing the cotton to settle. l

In apparatus for cleaning seed-cotton, substantially as described, the combination of an exhaust-chamber, means for feeding seed-cotton to said exhaust-chamber, the side walls of the latter formed with orilices for admitting air to said exhaust-chamber, a discharge-conduit from said exhaust-chamber opening at its lower end into the atmosphere, and an eduction-iiue and air-exhausting mechanism for creating and maintaining a partial vacuum within the apparatus and withdrawing the seed-cotton therefrom, substantially in the manner and for the purpose set forth. v

4. In apparatus for cleaning seed-cotton, substantially as described, the combination of an exhaust-chamber, means for feeding seed-cotton to said exhaust-chamber, mechanism for drawing the seed-cotton into said exhaust-chamber and loosening it up and whipping it therein, the walls of the exhaustchamber-formed with orifices for admitting air to the said exhaust-chamber, a dischargeconduit from said exhaust-chamber opening at its lower extremity into the atmosphere, and an eduction -iiue and air-exhausting mechanism for creating and maintaining a partial vacuum within the apparatus and withdrawing the seed-cotton therefrom, substantially in the manner and for the purpose described.

5. In apparatus for cleaning seed-cotton, substantially as described, the combination of an exhaust-chamber, mechanism for feeding seed-cotton to said exhaust-chamber, the walls of the exhaust-chamber formed with inlets for admitting air to said exhaust-chamber, a discharge-conduit from said exhaustchamber opening at its lower extremity into the atmosphere, an eduction-flue and air-exhausting mechanism for creating and maintaining a partial vacuum within the apparatus, and a drop-tine connected with said eduction-passage, said drop-iiue being formed with an air-inlet, for the purpose and substantially in the manner described.

6. In an apparatus for cleaning' seed-cotton, substantially as described, the combination, with the exhaust-chamber, mechanism for feeding seedcotton to said exhaust-chamber, the eduction-passage, and air-exhausting mechanism, of the walls of the apparatus, formed with adj ustable air-inlets for controlling the admission of air to the interior of the IOO apparatus, substantially in the manner and for the purpose described.

7. In apparatus for cleaning seed-cotton, substantially as described, the combination, with the exhaust chamber, mechanism for feeding seed-cotton to said exhaust-chamber, eduction-passage, and ai r-exhaustiug mechanism, of the walls of theapparatus formed with vacuum-valves arranged to limit the degree of vacuum within the apparatus, substantially in the manner and for the purpose described.

S. In apparatus for cleaning seed-cotton, substantially as described, theA combination of the exhaust-chamber, mechanism for feeding seed-cotton to the said exhaust-chamber, the walls formed with inlets for admitting air to said exhaust-chamber, a discharge-passage from said exhaust-chamber opening at its lower extremity into the atmosphere, an eduction-tlue and air-exhausting mechanism for creating and maintaining a partial vacuum within the apparatus, anda settling-compartment to receive the cleansed seed-cotton, substantially in the manner and for the purpose described.

IIO

9. In apparatus for cleaning seed-cottom substantially as described, the combination of the exhaust-chamber, mechanism for feeding seed-cotton to said exhaust-chamber, the walls of said chamber formed with inlets for admitting air to said exhaust-chamber, a discharge-conduit from said. exhaust-chamber opening at its lowei1 extremity into the atmosphere, an ednction-lue and air-exhausting mechanism for creating and maintaining a partial Vacuum Within the apparatus, asettling-chamber for receiving the cleansed seedcotton, and mechanism for drawing off an` separatingdust, &e.,from theseed-Cotton Within the settling-chamber, substantially in the manner and for the purpose described.

WALLACE P. GROOM. Ti tnesses:

D. NV. GARDNER, G. T. MIATT. 

